Movable bases for shade structures

ABSTRACT

A movable base for a shade structure such as an umbrella that is operable between a movable configuration and a braked configuration. The movable base includes a first frame, including a plurality of wheels, such as caster wheels, and a second, e.g., movable, frame that is actuatable relative to the first frame and wheels. In the movable position, a plurality of feed are raised and the wheels are in contact with a ground surface. In the fixed position, the feet of the second frame are in contact with the ground and/or the wheels are raised.

BACKGROUND Field

The present disclosure generally relates to mobile bases for supportingan umbrella, or other structure.

Related Art

Large umbrellas and other shade structures assemblies can be verydifficult to move without a wheeled base because of the weight and/orshape of the umbrellas. However, wheeled movable bases can beproblematic if the wheels allow for unwanted movement. Wind and otherforces can move or turn an umbrella out of a desired position,especially when supported on a wheeled base.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One aspect of the present disclosure is an movable base that includes afirst frame that includes a set of wheels, such as caster wheels. Themovable base also includes a second frame that is actuatable relative tothe first frame. The second frame includes a plurality of feet or otherstructures that contact the ground to lift the first frame and thewheels out of the contact with the ground surface and thereby fix theposition of the umbrella. A screw actuator couples between the secondframe and the first frame to transition the movable base between abraked configuration with the second frame contacting the ground and amovable configuration with the second frame lifted above the ground andthe movable base resting on the wheels.

According to another aspect, the movable base can include a lever armthat is coupled at one end with a screw of the screw actuator. Rotationof the screw in a first direction can actuate the lever to move themovable base into the braked configuration. Rotation of the screw in theopposite direction can actuate the lever to move the movable base intothe movable configuration. The screw actuator can be accessible by auser through an outer cover by a user.

In another embodiment, a movable base is provided that includes a firstframe assembly, a second frame assembly, a cover and an actuator. Thefirst frame assembly includes an upper channel member and two spacedapart lower channel members. The lower channel members each couple witha wheel assembly. The second frame assembly can be coupled with thefirst frame assembly. The second frame assembly can include a lever anda plurality of feet coupled with the lever. The cover can enclose thefirst frame assembly and the second frame assembly. The actuator can beaccessible at an outside surface of the cover. The actuator can beconfigured to move a first end of the lever to cause the feet to beextended in a direction away from a bottom surface of the lower channelmembers to cause the feet to bear at least a portion of the weight ofthe movable base. The feet thus provide a braking effect reducing oreliminating movement of the movable base.

In some embodiments, a movable base has a cowl forming a cover.

In some embodiments, the movable base has a superstructure. Thesuperstructure can be disposed between the cowl or other cover andinternal components, such as a frame assembly.

In some embodiments, the movable base can have a superstructure havingone or more walls for containing a portion of an actuator. In someembodiments, the movable base can have a superstructure having one ormore support surface for containing and/or supporting a portion of theactuator.

In some embodiments, the movable base can have an actuator thatcomprises a screw having a first end coupled with a lever and a secondend having a driver interface. The second end can be accessible at anoutside of the cover.

In some embodiments, the movable base can have one or more slotsdisposed through a frame assembly and one or more shafts or slidesdisposed through the slots. The shafts or slides can transfer pivotingmotion of the lever to vertical motion of the feet.

In some embodiments, the movable base can have a transverse membercoupled with the lever. The transverse member can have or be coupledwith feet at each end thereof. The transverse member can be coupled withshafts or slides of a frame assembly at spaced apart locations betweenthe feet. The transverse member can move along a travel distance withinone or more lower channel members upon actuation of an actuator.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Features of the invention can be better understood from the followingdetailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanyingschematic drawings, which are for illustrative purposes only. Thedrawings include the following figures:

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a movable base including a screwactuator that is accessible through an outer cowl;

FIG. 1B is a top view of the movable base;

FIG. 2A shows the movable base with the outer cowl removed and showingfurther detail of the screw actuator, the screw actuator including ascrew and a screw plate;

FIG. 2B is a detail taken of FIG. 2A with the screw plate removed forclarity;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of internal structure of the movable baseof FIGS. 1A and 1B in a movable configuration, the internal structureincluding a first frame and a second or vertically displaceable frame;

FIG. 4 is a section view taken along the line 4-4 in FIG. 1B and showsfurther detail of the screw actuator and connection with the secondframe;

FIG. 5 shows the internal components of the movable base of FIGS. 1A and1B in a configuration preventing or restricting rolling motion of thewheels;

FIG. 6 shows further detail of the first frame and the second frame withportions of the first frame removed for clarity.

FIG. 7 shows a section view through a pivot point between the firstframe and the second frame.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

While the present description sets forth specific details of variousembodiments, it will be appreciated that the description is illustrativeonly and should not be construed in any way as limiting. Furthermore,various applications of such embodiments and modifications thereto,which may occur to those who are skilled in the art, are alsoencompassed by the general concepts described herein. Each and everyfeature described herein, and each and every combination of two or moreof such features, is included within the scope of the present inventionprovided that the features included in such a combination are notmutually inconsistent.

FIGS. 1A-1B show a movable base 110. Although the movable base 110 isdescribed herein in terms of an umbrella base, it can alternatively beused in conjunction with other types of shade structures. The movablebase 110 can be any shape or size such that it provides stability to anattached shade structure. The movable base 110 can include a mountingportion 112. The mounting portion 112 may be located directly in thecenter of the movable base 110 or elsewhere thereon. The mountinglocation 112 can include an aperture, such as a cylindrical aperture,for receiving a lower end of an upright pole of an umbrella assembly.The mounting location 112 can also include one or more apertures forreceiving screws that further secure a position of the upright pole. Incertain implementations, the movable base 110 can include ballast tanksor weights (not shown).

The movable base 110 can include an exterior or outer cowl 111. The cowl111 can be removable. When not removed, the cowl 111 covers anyunderlying structures that provide support to the movable base 110 andone or more frame members, as discussed further herein. The cowl 111 canbe made out of a thin plastic material, or other type of material. Thecowl 111 can include an aperture aligned with the mounting location 112.

The movable base 110 can include an actuator that can be accessedthrough the cowl 111. The actuator can be a screw actuator 120 in oneembodiment. The screw actuator 120 can be accessible through an aperture113 in the exterior cowl 111. The aperture 113 may include an additionalremovable or movable cover to block access to the screw actuator 120when not in use. The screw actuator 120 can be accessible through anupper side of the cowl 111. In other implementations, the screw actuator120 can be located on a front or side surface of the movable base 110.

FIGS. 2A-2B illustrate internal components of the movable base 110 withthe exterior cowl 111 removed for clarity to show a superstructure 114.The superstructure 114 can comprise a plurality of support structuresthat provide rigidity and strength to the movable base 110 including themounting location 112. The superstructure 114 can include a plurality ofradial and/or circumferential ribs that extend outwardly from themounting location 112 to an outer periphery of the movable base 110. Theribs of the superstructure 114 can be vertically oriented and/or includeone or more additional linking ribs therebetween. Other configurationsfor the superstructure 114 are also contemplated herein.

The screw actuator 120 can include a screw member 121 and a matchingthreaded member, such as a screw plate 122. The screw plate 122 can becoupled in a fixed manner with the superstructure 114 (or alternativelywith a first or fixed frame of the movable base as described below). Thescrew plate 122 can be positioned on a supporting surface, featureprojection, slot or other mechanical support or supporting member 114aof the superstructure 114 and/or fixed thereto. The supporting member114 a for the screw plate 122 can be located between the radial ribs ofthe superstructure 114. Optionally, the screw plate 122 can be fixed tothe superstructure 114 or to another a rigid structure of the movablebase 110 by one or more mechanical fasteners such as screws, bolts,clasps, or the like. The screw plate 122 can include an aperture havingone or more threads therein that receive and mate with exterior threadsof the screw 121. Accordingly, rotation of the screw 121 relative to thescrew plate 122 cause the linear motion of the screw 121 through theplate 122. The screw 121 can be mounted vertically and can move alongthe vertical direction, either up or down, depending on the direction ofrotation. The screw 121 can extend through an aperture 114 b in thesupporting member 114 a. The lower end of the screw 121 can be engagedwith a second or movable frame 130 of the movable base 110, as describedfurther below. Although the screw 121 and screw plate 122 is oneadvantageous manner of actuating a braking assembly of the movable base110 other mechanisms providing a load, e.g., a linear load, a verticalload, a compressive load, can be used to actuate the braking assembly.

FIG. 3 shows the movable base 110 with the exterior cowl 111 and thesuperstructure 114 removed to illustrate a first or fixed frame 150 anda second or movable frame 130. The first frame 150 can be generallyfixed in one or more locations with the superstructure 114. Thesuperstructure 114 can include various internal apertures, spaces, orcavities for receiving therein portions of the first frame 150 and/orthe second frame 130. The first frame 150 can include a plurality ofmembers, such as linear member. The members can be connected to eachother and/or the superstructure 114 via mechanical fasteners, welding,or other means.

The first frame 150 can include a lateral member 151. The lateral member151 can extend between a first side 152 and a second side 153 of thefirst frame 150. The first side 152 can be aligned generallyperpendicular to the first member 151. The second side 153 can bealigned generally perpendicular to the member 151. Together the firstside 152, the second side 153 and the lateral member 151 can form aU-shape. The U-shape can extend generally along three sides of themovable base 110. Other shapes are possible. For example, the lateralmember 151 could be in a more central position of the movable base 110providing an I-shape. This configuration would be suitable for anmovable base with a higher position of a bottom of the mounting location112. Also, additional lateral members could be provided to create aquadrilateral (e.g., square) shaped frame assembly.

The first side 152 can include an upper member 152 a. The upper member152 a can be an upper channel member. The upper member 152 a can begenerally formed as an elongate rectangular member having a hollow spacetherein and/or one or more cutout portions. The first side 152 caninclude a first lower member 152 b and a second lower member 152 c. Thefirst and second lower members 152 b, 152 c can be connected to eachother and/or formed integrally with the upper member 152 a. The firstand second lower members 152 b, 152 c can be lower channel members. Thefirst and second lower members 152 b, 152 c can also be rectangularmembers having planar upper sides. The planar upper sides can interfaceand attach with a lower face of the upper member 152 a. Each of thefirst and second lower members 152 b, 152 c can also includetherethrough a hollow space. As discussed further below, the hollowspace defined in the first and second lower members 152 b, 152 c cancorrespond to a throw or travel distance of a braking assembly disclosedherein. In other words, parts of the second frame 130 can move withinthe first and second lower members 152 b, 152 c along a path with afirst end corresponding to the movable configuration and a second endcorresponding to a braked configuration with no or limited rolling ormovement. The lateral member 151 can be connected with any one or moreof the components of the first side 152.

The first side 152 can include a first wheel 161 and a second wheel 162.The first wheel 161 can be connected with the first lower member 152 b.The second wheel 162 can be connected with the second lower member 152c. The first and second wheels 161, 162 can be caster wheels that allowpivoting and rolling of a wheel member. The wheels 161, 162 can beconnected with lower faces of the respective first and second lowermembers 152 b, 152 c. The wheels 161, 162 can be connected with one ormore faces including or other than the lower faces of the respectivefirst and second lower members 152 b, 152 c.

The second side 153 can have the same configuration as the first side152. For example, the second side 153 can also include an upper member153 a, a first lower member 153 b, and/or a second lower member 153 c.Each of the members 153 a-c can include a hollow space therein and/or beformed as rectangular elongate members. The upper member 153 a caninclude one or more planar faces to which upper planar faces of thefirst and second lower members 153 b, 153 c can be attached. A thirdwheel 163 can be attached with the first lower member 153 b on a lowersurface thereof. A fourth wheel 164 can be attached with the secondlower member 153 c on a lower surface thereof. The third and fourthwheels 163, 164 can be caster wheels.

The second frame 130 can include a lateral member 131, a first levermember 132 and/or a second lever member 133. The lateral member 131 andthe first and second lever members 132, 133 can form a U-shape. Moregenerally, the second frame 130 preferably has a pivot or lever arm witha diverging shape such that the end of the frame 130 opposite thelateral member 131 is wider adjacent to the lateral member. A V-shapedlever arm of a second frame 130 is also possible. The U-shape can extendgenerally along three sides of the movable base 110. The lateral member131 can be located opposite the lateral member 151 on the movable base110. The first lever member 132 can be disposed within the hollow spaceof the upper member 152 a. The lateral member 132 can be a leverpivotally coupled about an axis 136 (e.g., using a pin or othermechanism). The axis 136 can be located within the upper member 152 a. Afirst end of the lever member 132 can be connected with the lateralmember 131 outside of the upper member 152 a. A second end of the levermember 132 can be engaged with a pivot point 138 (e.g., extendingthrough a cutout portion of the upper member 152 a).

As discussed further below, the hollow space defined in the upper member152 a can correspond to a pivot distance of the lever arm. In otherwords, the portion of pivot arm adjacent to the lateral member 131sweeps a circumferential path that is accommodated by the top and bottominside surface of the upper member 152 a a path with a first end of thecircumferential path corresponding to a free rolling state and a secondend of the circumferential path corresponding to a braked state with noor limited rolling or movement. The height of the internal space of theupper member 152 a can be the same as the height of the internal spaceof the first and second lower members 152 b, 152 c. The height of theinternal space of the upper member 152 a can be less than the height ofthe internal space of the first and second lower members 152 b, 152 cwhen the axis 136 is closer to the lateral member 131 than to the pivotpoint 138.

The pivot point 138 can comprise a cylindrical member to reduce frictionwith the second end of the lever member 132. The pivot location 138 canbe coupled with a first translating member 134. The first translatingmember 134 can be configured to move vertically either up and downrelative to the first frame 150. The cylindrical member of the pivotpoint 138 can reduce friction with the first translating member 134. Thefirst translating member 134 can be disposed within the hollow spaces ofthe first lower member 152 b and/or the second lower member 152c. Thefirst translating member 134 can be mounted on slides or shafts, asdescribed further below. The first translating member 134 can includefirst and second feet 141, 142. A first end of the translating member134 can include or be coupled with the first foot 141. A second end ofthe translating member 134 can include or be coupled with the secondfoot 142. The first and second feet 141, 142 and/or the first and secondends of the translating member 134 can be disposed outside of, e.g., caneach overhang, the respective first and second lower members 152 b, 152c. The first foot 141 and the second foot 142 can be disposed forwardlyand rearwardly, respectively, of the first and second wheels 161, 162,as shown in FIG. 3 . In other embodiments, one or more of the first andsecond feet 141, 142 are disposed between the respective first andsecond lower members 152 b, 152 c. The first translating member 134 canbe movable in the vertical direction within the hollow space of thefirst and second lower members 152 b, 152 c. The lever member 132 can berotatable within the hollow space or at least partially within thehollow space of the upper member 152 a about the axis 136. Rotation ofthe first lever member 132 about the pivot axis 136 in a first direction(e.g., upward) can engage the second end with the pivot location 138 tocause downward translation of the first translation member 134 and thefirst and second feet 141, 142 relative to the wheels 161, 162. Rotationof the first lever member 132 about the pivot axis 136 in a seconddirection opposite the first direction (e.g., downward) can cause upwardtranslation of the first translation member 134 and the first and secondfeet 141, 142 relative to the wheels 161, 162 (or otherwise allow theweight of the umbrella and/or movable base 110 to move the wheels 161,162 into contact with a ground surface).

The configuration and operation of the second lever member 133 can besimilar to or the same as that of the first lever member 132. Forexample, the second lever member 133 can be disposed within the hollowspace of the upper member 153 a and pivotally coupled therewith by a pinor other mechanism at an axis 137 that can extend through the uppermember 153 a. A first end of the second lever member 133 can beconnected with the lateral member 131 and a second end can be coupledwith a second translating member 135 at a pivot location 139. The pivotlocation 139 can include a cylindrical member attached with the secondtranslating member 135. The second translating member 135 can bedisposed within the hollow spaces of the first and second lower members153 b, 153. The second translating member 135 can be disposed on slidesor shafts that facilitate and enable translation along a verticaldirection. The second translating member 135 can include a third foot143 and a fourth foot 144. The third and fourth feet 143, 144 can bedisposed on respective first and second ends of the second translatingmember 135. The first and second ends and/or the third and fourth feet143, 144, respectively, can be exposed exteriorly to the first andsecond lower portions 153 b, 153 c. The third and fourth feet 143, 144can be disposed forwardly and rearwardly of the third and fourth wheels163, 164, respectively. Pivoting of the lever member 133 about the pivotaxis 137 in the first direction can move the second translating member135 downwards along the vertical direction to extend the third andfourth feet 143, 144 relative to the third and fourth wheels 163, 164.Rotation of the second lever member 133 about the pivot axis 137 in thesecond direction can cause upward translation of the second translationmember 135 and the third and fourth feet 143, 144 relative to the wheels163, 164 (or otherwise allow the weight of the umbrella and/or movablebase 110 to move the wheels 163, 164 into contact with a groundsurface).

As shown in FIG. 4 , the screw 121 can be engaged with the lateralmember 131 of the second frame 130. The screw 121 can be coupled with apin 123 that is received within a slot 131 a of the lateral member 131.Accordingly, a direction of rotation of the screw 121 (e.g., clockwiseor counter-clockwise) relative to the screw plate 122 can actuate thelateral member 131 in the first or second directions to raise of lowerthe feet relative to the wheels. The lateral member 131 connected withthe first and second lever members 132, 133 can actuate the first andsecond translation member 134, 135 to raise/lower the feet 141-144.Thus, the second frame 130 and the first frame 150, as well as the feet141-144 and the screw 121 and other corresponding components compriseportions of a braking assembly of the umbrella assembly 110.

FIG. 5 shows the movable base 110 in the fixed or braked configurationeliminating or limiting movement, while FIG. 3 shows the movable base110 in the movable configuration. In the movable configuration, thefirst and second translating members 134, 135 can be in a raisedposition that raises the feet 141-144 relative to the wheels 161-164(disengaged position). The feet 141-144 can be raised above thelowermost surface of one or all of the wheels 161, 164. In the fixed orbraked configuration, the wheels 161-164 can be lifted off the groundsurface and/or some or all of the weight of the movable base 110 isshifted to the feet 141-144 (engaged position). Friction between groundsurface and the feet 141-144 can be greatly increased relative tofriction between the wheels 161 and the ground surface (if stilltouching the ground surface). The movable base 110 can be in the fixedor braked configuration while supported at least partially on the feet141-144 alone. The second frame 130 can be actuated from the movableconfiguration to the braked configuration by rotation of the screw 121in a first direction to actuate the second frame 130. The second frame130 can be actuated from the braked configuration to the movableconfiguration by rotation of the screw 121 in a second direction toactuate the second frame 130.

FIG. 6 shows the lower members 152 b-c and 153 b-c removed for clarity.The first frame 150 can include sliding shafts 171 and 172, and 174 and175 along which the first and second translating members 134, 135 cantranslate, respectively. The first shaft 171 can be connected with thefirst end of the upper member 152 a and extend through and/or connectwith the first lower member 152 b. Accordingly, an end portion of thesliding shaft 171 can be disposed within the hollow space of the firstlower member 152 b. The first translating member 134 can include anaperture that is received through which the sliding pin 171 is receivedto allow vertical translation of the translating member 134. Similarly,the second sliding shaft 172 can be coupled with the second end of theupper member 152 a and/or the second lower member 152 c and disposedwithin the hollow space therein. An aperture of the first translatingmember 134 can receive the second sliding shaft 172. Similarly, thethird and fourth sliding shafts 174, 175 can be coupled with the uppermember 153 a and located within the respective first and second lowermembers 153 b, 153 c. Apertures of the second translating member 135 canreceive the sliding shafts 174, 175 to facilitate vertical translation.

Pivot points 138 and/or 139 can also be mounted on shafts 173, 176. Theshafts 173, 176 can extend through one or more slots within upper andlower sides of the respective first and second translating members 134,135. The slots can extend along a longitudinal axis of the translatingmembers. The shafts 173, 176 can be connected generally perpendicularwith a longitudinal axis of the cylindrical member of the pivot points138, 139. The slots facilitate movement (e.g., rolling or reducedfriction sliding) of a cylindrical portion of the cylindrical membersslightly with respect to an upper surface of the translating members.This can reduce friction between the lever members and the pivot points138, 139.

While certain embodiments of the inventions have been described, theseembodiments have been presented by way of example only, and are notintended to limit the scope of the disclosure. Indeed, the novel methodsand systems described herein may be embodied in a variety of otherforms. Furthermore, various omissions, substitutions and changes in thesystems and methods described herein may be made without departing fromthe spirit of the disclosure. The accompanying claims and theirequivalents are intended to cover such forms or modifications as wouldfall within the scope and spirit of the disclosure. Accordingly, thescope of the present inventions is defined only by reference to theappended claims.

Features, materials, characteristics, or groups described in conjunctionwith a particular aspect, embodiment, or example are to be understood tobe applicable to any other aspect, embodiment or example described inthis section or elsewhere in this specification unless incompatibletherewith. All of the features disclosed in this specification(including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or allof the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined inany combination, except combinations where at least some of suchfeatures and/or steps are mutually exclusive. The protection is notrestricted to the details of any foregoing embodiments. The protectionextends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the featuresdisclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims,abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination,of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.

Furthermore, certain features that are described in this disclosure inthe context of separate implementations can also be implemented incombination in a single implementation. Conversely, various featuresthat are described in the context of a single implementation can also beimplemented in multiple implementations separately or in any suitablesubcombination. Moreover, although features may be described above asacting in certain combinations, one or more features from a claimedcombination can, in some cases, be excised from the combination, and thecombination may be claimed as a subcombination or variation of asubcombination.

Moreover, while operations may be depicted in the drawings or describedin the specification in a particular order, such operations need not beperformed in the particular order shown or in sequential order, or thatall operations be performed, to achieve desirable results. Otheroperations that are not depicted or described can be incorporated in theexample methods and processes. For example, one or more additionaloperations can be performed before, after, simultaneously, or betweenany of the described operations. Further, the operations may berearranged or reordered in other implementations. Those skilled in theart will appreciate that in some embodiments, the actual steps taken inthe processes illustrated and/or disclosed may differ from those shownin the figures. Depending on the embodiment, certain of the stepsdescribed above may be removed, others may be added. Furthermore, thefeatures and attributes of the specific embodiments disclosed above maybe combined in different ways to form additional embodiments, all ofwhich fall within the scope of the present disclosure. Also, theseparation of various system components in the implementations describedabove should not be understood as requiring such separation in allimplementations, and it should be understood that the describedcomponents and systems can generally be integrated together in a singleproduct or packaged into multiple products.

For purposes of this disclosure, certain aspects, advantages, and novelfeatures are described herein. Not necessarily all such advantages maybe achieved in accordance with any particular embodiment. Thus, forexample, those skilled in the art will recognize that the disclosure maybe embodied or carried out in a manner that achieves one advantage or agroup of advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving otheradvantages as may be taught or suggested herein.

Conditional language, such as “can,” “could,” “might,” or “may,” unlessspecifically stated otherwise, or otherwise understood within thecontext as used, is generally intended to convey that certainembodiments include, while other embodiments do not include, certainfeatures, elements, and/or steps. Thus, such conditional language is notgenerally intended to imply that features, elements, and/or steps are inany way required for one or more embodiments or that one or moreembodiments necessarily include logic for deciding, with or without userinput or prompting, whether these features, elements, and/or steps areincluded or are to be performed in any particular embodiment.

Conjunctive language such as the phrase “at least one of X, Y, and Z,”unless specifically stated otherwise, is otherwise understood with thecontext as used in general to convey that an item, term, etc. may beeither X, Y, or Z. Thus, such conjunctive language is not generallyintended to imply that certain embodiments require the presence of atleast one of X, at least one of Y, and at least one of Z.

Language of degree used herein, such as the terms “approximately,”“about,” “generally,” and “substantially” as used herein represent avalue, amount, or characteristic close to the stated value, amount, orcharacteristic that still performs a desired function or achieves adesired result. For example, the terms “approximately”, “about”,“generally,” and “substantially” may refer to an amount that is withinless than 10% of, within less than 5% of, within less than 1% of, withinless than 0.1% of, and within less than 0.01% of the stated amount. Asanother example, in certain embodiments, the terms “generally parallel”and “substantially parallel” refer to a value, amount, or characteristicthat departs from exactly parallel by less than or equal to 15 degrees,10 degrees, 5 degrees, 3 degrees, 1 degree, or 0.1 degree.

The scope of the present disclosure is not intended to be limited by thespecific disclosures of preferred embodiments in this section orelsewhere in this specification, and may be defined by claims aspresented in this section or elsewhere in this specification or aspresented in the future. The language of the claims is to be interpretedbroadly based on the language employed in the claims and not limited tothe examples described in the present specification or during theprosecution of the application, which examples are to be construed asnon-exclusive.

What is claimed is:
 1. A movable base, comprising a mounting location; a superstructure providing support to the mounting location; a first frame having a plurality of wheels for supporting the movable base on a ground surface; a second frame, comprising: a plurality of spaced apart ground contact members, the second frame having an engaged position in which the ground contact members are in contact with the ground surface and a disengaged position in which the ground contact members are spaced above the ground surface; a lever arm pivotably coupled with the first frame, the lever arm pivoting between first and second positions; a screw actuator coupled to the lever arm to secure the lever arm in either or both of a first position corresponding to the engaged position of the spaced apart ground contact members or a second position corresponding to the disengaged position of the spaced apart ground contact members.
 2. A movable base comprising: a first frame assembly including a plurality of wheels; a second frame assembly coupled with the first frame assembly and including a plurality of feet; a screw actuator including a screw member and a screw plate; wherein the screw actuator is coupled with a lever of the second frame such that rotation of a screw in a first direction actuates the lever to cause the feet to translate downward relative to the wheels and rotation of the screw in a second direction actuates the lever to cause the feet to translate upward relative to the wheels; wherein in a fixed configuration, the feet are at or below a lowermost level of the wheels and in a movable configuration the feet are raised above a lowermost surface of the wheels.
 3. The movable base of claim 2, wherein the first frame includes a lateral member, a first side, and a second side forming a U-shape.
 4. The movable umbrella of claim 2, wherein the second frame includes a lateral member, a first lever member, and a second lever member coupled together to form a U-shape.
 5. The movable umbrella of claim 2, wherein the second frame includes a translating member coupled with a lever member, one or more of the plurality of feet attached with the translating member including.
 6. The movable umbrella of claim 5, wherein the translating member is mounted on sliding shaft coupled with the first frame.
 7. The movable umbrella of claim 2, wherein the wheels are caster wheels.
 8. The umbrella of claim 2, wherein the plurality of feet are disposed forwardly and rearwardly relative to the wheels.
 9. The umbrella of claim 2, wherein a screw plate is mounted on a superstructure of the umbrella and the screw is coupled with the second frame via a pin.
 10. The movable umbrella of claim 2, wherein the screw is accessible through an aperture in an exterior cowl on an upper surface of the movable base.
 11. The movable umbrella of claim 2, wherein a lever member of the movable base is disposed within and pivotably coupled with a member of the first frame via a pin.
 12. The movable umbrella of claim 2, wherein a pivot point between a translating member and the lever includes a cylinder.
 13. The umbrella of claim 12, wherein the pivot point includes a cylindrical member mounted on a shaft disposed within a slot on the translating member.
 14. A movable base comprising: a first frame assembly including an upper channel member and two spaced apart lower channel members, the lower channel members each couple with a wheel assembly; a second frame assembly coupled with the first frame assembly, the second frame assembly including a lever and a plurality of feet coupled with the lever; a cover enclosing the first frame assembly and the second frame assembly; and an actuator accessible at an outside surface of the cover, the actuator configured to move a first end of the lever to cause the feet to be extended in a direction away from a bottom surface of the lower channel members to cause the feet to bear at least a portion of a weight of the movable base to provide a braking effect reducing or eliminating movement of the movable base.
 15. The movable base of claim 14, wherein the cover comprises a cowl.
 16. The movable base of claim 15, further comprising a superstructure disposed between the cowl and the first frame assembly and the second frame assembly.
 17. The movable base of claim 16, wherein the superstructure comprises one or more walls or a support surface for containing and/or supporting a portion of the actuator.
 18. The movable base of claim 17, wherein the actuator comprises a screw having a first end coupled with the lever and a second end having a driver interface, the second end being accessible at an outside of the cover.
 19. The movable base of claim 14, further comprising one or more slots disposed through the first frame assembly and one or more shafts disposed through the slots, the shafts transferring pivoting motion of the lever to vertical motion of the feet.
 20. The movable base of claim 19, further a transverse member coupled with the lever and having feet at each end thereof, the transverse member being coupled with the shafts at spaced apart locations between the feet, the transverse member moving along a travel distance within the lower channel members upon actuation of the actuator. 